Salvation Station by Kathryn Schleich
Publisher/Year: She Writes Press, 2020
Format: Paperback
Pages: 313
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads
Summary
Despite her years of experience investigating homicides for the force, Captain Linda Turner is haunted by the murders of the Hansen family. The two small children, clothed in tattered Disney pajamas, were buried with their father, a pastor, in the flower garden behind a church parsonage in Lincoln, Nebraska. But Mrs. Hansen is nowhere to be found–and neither is the killer.
In St. Louis, the televangelist Ray Williams is about to lose his show–until one of his regular attendees approaches him with an idea that can save it. Despite his initial misgivings, Ray agrees to give it a try. He can’t deny his attraction to this woman, and besides, she’s assured him the plan is just–God gave her the instructions in a dream.
Multiple storylines entwine throughout this compelling mystery, delving into the topics of murder, religious faith, and the inherent dangers in blindly accepting that faith as truth. While Reverend Williams is swept up in his newfound success and plans for his wedding, Captain Turner can only hope that she and her team will catch the Hansens’ cunning killer–before more bodies surface.
What I thought
Thank you to She Writes Press and Book Publicity Services for a free finished copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This was a good, solid debut, and I’m glad I had the opportunity to read this one! The first thing that caught my attention with this book was its cover–how deliciously creepy! I was also drawn in because in a world of thrillers, Salvation Station certainly stands out with its unique premise. This turned out to be an easy read with writing that flowed well and an interesting plot that kept the story moving forward. One thing that I do want to note is that rather than being described as a murder mystery, this is more of a suspense novel. You find out almost immediately “who did it,” and the question shifts to “will they catch the culprit before it happens again?” Still, I enjoyed the multiple perspectives employed to tell the story. I will say that I much preferred Linda’s section about solving the crime. I found that the heavy religious tones, although not necessarily preachy were a bit much for me.
Overall, I’m glad I had the chance to read this one and it was a good debut entry into the suspense genre!
Jessika Reads 